Electric-lighting system



(No Model.)

W. W. GRIS'GOM.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM.

No. 389,297. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

7 Smwmboz.

Q 51; Ju /y @110 QQOWQ M5 n PETERS PhoQvLnhngrap UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

XVILLIAM YV. GRISOOM, OF HAVERFORD COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA,

ELECTRlC-LlGHTlNG SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,297, datedSeptember 11, 1888.

Serial No. 278,686.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. GRISCOM, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Haverford College, in the county of Montgomery andState of Pennsylvania, have invented eertain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Lighting, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in electric lighting; and it consists ofan arrangement of apparatus whereby every light of a series may besimultaneously placed in circuit, at the same time obviating thepossibility of breaking the circuit to any particular lamp at theindividual switcl1- that is, the switch assigned to any given lamp.

The object of my invention is to provide for lighting every lamp in anisolated installation from a central point by the use of an apparatuswhich, when ope 'ated, takes the control of such lamps away from theseries of individual switehcslocated at the lamps. Thus it is applicableto large auditoriums, as theaters and churches. It is also applicable asan alarm upon the entrance or threatened en trance of an intruder, as aburglar, and also to render it difficult or impossible for such intruderto extinguish the lights individually. The apparatus devised for thispurpose consists of a multiple circuit-closer located at a centralpoint, as in a slcepirig-apartment, so arranged that by one movementevery lamp is out into circuit and every individual circuit closer iscut out. This multiple circuit-closer consists of a cylinder ofinsulating material, a part of its surface loci ng of conducti n gmaterial. There are a series of spring-fingers insulated from each otherbearing upon the surface of the cylinder. One of these lingers is connected to a wire, forming a common connection with one side of theindividual circuit-closers. The remainder of the series of fingers arerespectively connected to the other side of said individualcircuit-closers by a series of separate wires. YVhen the cylinder of themultiple circuit-closer is rotated to a point where the conductingportion of its surface is in contact with the series of fingers,allthese fingers are electrically united, and it results that the lamps arecut into circuit,whilc each individ- Hal circuit-closer is cut out.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention.

D is a dynamo.

B is a storage-battery connected to the main leads I 2,and in parallelcircuit with the lamps L. In each lamp-circuit,beside each lamp L, is anindividual circuitbreaker, m.

S is a multiple circuit-changer. It consists of a cylinder of insulatingmaterial 0, having set into its surface asection of conducting material,Z1. There are a series of fingers, f, of conducting material, having oneend fixed to astrip of insulating materiahi. Their free ends rest uponthe surface of the cylinder 0. One of this series of fingers, f, isconnected to one main lead, 2, common to one side of the series ofindividual circuit'closers m. A series of wires, row, are connected fromthe opposite sides of the circuit closers m, respectively, to the seriesof lingersf. Normally, the wires 2 and 20 20 are all insulated from eachother at the circuit-closer S, and the circuit of each lamp iscontrolled by its individual circuitcloser m. It generally happens thatall circuitelosers m are open when the circuitchanger S is operated;but,however this may hashould the occupant of the sleepirig-apartmentdesire to light every lamp L, he rotates the said cylinder until strip 1comes into contact with the fingers ff. This closes circuit round thecireuit-closers m m, and completes the circuit of lamps L 'v/Ia mainlead 2, iingcrf, strip Z), and wires w 10. It will thus be seen thatevery lamp is lighted sinmltanoously, and that all the circuitcloscrs mare cutout. This renders it diflicult or impossible to extinguish thelamps at or near the points where they are lo cated, and creates somesurprise or alarm in the mind of the intruder. If it he applied as abnrglaralarm, or if used in a large auditorium, as a theater, it wouldrender it extremely diiiicult for misehievously-disposed parties tocreatepanic, confusion, or alarm by extinguishing the lights.

lVhatI elaim,and desire to secure byLcttei's Patent, is-

1. The combination of a source of electrical supply, a series ofelectric lamps electrically connected thereto, a eircuitcloser for eachlamp,audamultiple circuit-closer having a se ries of contacts connectedto each lamp-circuit on opposite sides of said circuit-closers operatedby a single continuous movement, whereby thelamps may beinclnded and theindividual circuit-closers be excluded with respect to the main circuit,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a source of electrical supply, a series oftranslating devices electrically connected thereto, a circuit-closer foreach translating device,and a multiple circuitcloser having a series ofcontacts'connected to the said circuit upon opposite sides of thecircuit closer assigned to each translating device,

respectively,said circuitcloser being operated by asingle continuousmovement,whereby the 15 translating devices may be included and thecircuit-closer excluded with respect to the main circuit, substantiallyas described.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 28th 20 day of June, A. D. 1888.

\V. W. GRISOOM.

Witnesses:

DANIEL E. DELAVAN, W M. B. VANSIZE.

